The European Patent Office (EPO) and the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral co-operation to help innovators make better use of the European patent system. The agreement was signed by EPO President António Campinos and LESI President François Painchaud on the occasion of LESI's recent Winter Planning Meeting in Miami, Florida.
“At LES International, we are always looking to facilitate the interactions of people and organizations that will make innovation useful in a global and connected world; this agreement with the European Patent Office reinforces the collaboration between our organizations and will benefit education and the dissemination of knowledge in the business of innovations and intellectual property, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) where it is often needed,” noted LESI President François Painchaud.
This enhanced co-operation will enable the EPO and LESI to extend the reach of joint activities for stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, industry representatives, technology transfer experts, publicly funded research organisations, IP advisors, innovation centres, user associations, IP offices and government policy makers.
The Memorandum of Understanding between both partners will remain in effect for a period of five years and extends the successful history of co-operation between the EPO and LESI.
"The main goal of our agreement is to enable current and future innovators to make better use of the patent system by overcoming barriers such as lack of knowledge about IP and commercialisation options," commented EPO President António Campinos. "This will help innovators see the business opportunities that IP can create."
The co-operation aims to enhance the visibility of intellectual property and its protection, transfer and commercialisation, foster networking among interested parties, lower the entry barriers for participants from emerging countries, and create favourable conditions, where applicable, for the protection, transfer and best use of technology.
###